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Sri Lanka Treasury's USD 2.5 Million Loss: Cyber Theft Claim Challenged ...
The Sri Lankan Treasury is embroiled in a deepening controversy following the loss of USD 2.5 million (over LKR 750 million), initially reported as a cyber theft of funds intended for a loan installment payment to Australia. The incident, first detected in January 2026, involved the diversion of money that was part of a larger USD 22.9 million debt settlement due to the Australian Export Finance Agency. This marks the largest amount of cash ever stolen from a state institution in Sri Lanka.Initially, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development officially confirmed a cyber attack, stating that cybercriminals gained unauthorized access to the computer system of the Ministry's External Resources Department. They exploited the email communication channel between the Treasury and the Australian agency to manipulate payment instructions, diverting the funds to a third party. Treasury Secretary Harshan Suriyapperuma clarified that the incident was not made public initially to prevent the hackers from hiding. Deputy Minister of Finance Dr Anil Jayantha confirmed the mechanism and categorically denied any government party involvement, attributing the irregularity solely to an organized group of cybercriminals. He also revealed that hackers had attempted to divert a loan payment to India by changing account numbers, but this attempt was thwarted.In response, the Ministry filed complaints with law enforcement agencies, including the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SL-CERT) and the Sri Lanka Police's Computer Crime Investigation Division. The Treasury launched its own special investigation, alongside ongoing probes by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). The Australian High Commission in Colombo officially confirmed its awareness of irregularities and stated that Australian officials are assisting with the investigation. Government intelligence agencies have also launched a special investigation, utilizing specific technical methods, with Australian security agencies confirming their support. The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Central Bank has been informed and is part of a joint comprehensive inquiry with the CID and SL-CERT. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has expressed significant concern, with a spokesperson confirming they are closely monitoring the situation.However, the official narrative of a simple cyber theft has been strongly challenged by various parties, who allege a more complex internal irregularity or...
Sri Lanka probes $2.5mn cyber theft - bdnews24.com
Sri Lanka has opened an investigation into a high-stakes security breach after hackers infiltrated the finance ministry's systems to steal $2.5 million, the BBC reports.
Sri Lanka investigates after hackers steal $2.5 million
The cyber-attack came as Sri Lanka's central bank and finance ministry launched an advertising campaign in local newspapers earlier this year, warning Sri Lankans not to fall prey to cyber scams ...
Sri Lanka moves to recover USD 2.5 million lost in Finance Ministry ...
Sri Lanka's Finance Ministry says efforts are underway to recover as much as possible of the USD 2.5 million lost after cyber criminals breached one of its computer systems.
